Potatonator?

12-31-2012, 11:51 AM

I consider myself as a beginner-intermediate surfer. I'm 6'3" and weigh ~200lbs. I have a 6'6" Alternator which I really like; however, I have a difficult time paddling into or popping up in small waves or waves lacking power. I end up using a 8"-some generic funboard when the waves are like that. I like the ability to paddle into the waves but don't like maneuverability of the board. So, I'm interested in a shortboard that has good volume and gives me the paddling power of a fun/long board and the maneuverability of a shortboard. It seems like the Potatonator might be the board for me? Or would the Sweet Potato be a better board for me? Or would some other board be better?

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As a beginner/intermediate I reckon the Potatonator would be a more user friendly board. If the Baked is anything like the Sweet it takes a bit of figuring out and needs to be ridden in a particular way to really come alive and it could get frustrating if it doesn't click right away.

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Im roughly same as you and class myself beginner - Intermediate. I just went 5"10 Potatonator and it is perfect for the small stuff (Waist to Chest). Really easy to catch waves on, keeps going through the flats and really manouverable. Honestly you wont look back.

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Agree with prjwebb PN is more user friendly board than potatos because i think you have more length and less width at the same litres.Potatos needs some time to get used properly.You cant go wrong with any of these 3 boards for small waves . The choise is yours.....

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I think I'm set on a Potatonator. However, I'm not sure what size is best for me. The Board Formula suggests a board volume between 50 and 55. The 6'8" Potatonator with a volume of 53.4 seems too long for what I want. A guy in my local shop suggested a 5'10", but I wonder if that'll be too thin for me. Would a 6'2" or 6'4" be better for me? Or some other size?

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I'm pretty much the same weight as you and also surf an Alt in good waves. I use a 6'8" Alt which is fine for my fatty days but I should probably be on a 6'6" - that's being rectified as we speak with a 6'6" Quadrafive on order.

Anyway, I use a 6'4" Dom as my small wave board. Except in the absolute smallest conditions I find it to be great in small waves. The transition between it and the Alt is tiny - you surf them with similar technique. You could always consider that. But the Potatonator is basically a Spit/Dom even more hyper-specialised for small waves. If my Dom ever bites the dust I'll certainly be considering the Potatonator as its replacement. If I did I think I'd be looking at the 6'0".

I'm 82kgs, 5'8" and surf the 6/0 P/n. It's a bit corky, pretty hard to duck-dive deep, could easily have gone 5/10 but I wanted a big separation from my Hellfire 6/4 and Alt 6/8. That way it remains my true groveller and I'm not tempted to surf it when I should be on a more refined board. Trust that helps a little in the decision making Tvondy.